Criminal Justice Professor dedicating his life to revitalizing the Niagara Falls community.
By Paul Lane (Niagara Gazette)
— Niagara Falls’ Main Street inspires many thoughts in the people who travel down it.
Fascination is generally not one of them.
But that was the case for David Taylor when he traveled to the area in the late 1990s while searching for a job.
“I drove down Main Street in Niagara Falls and said, ‘This is where I need to be,’ ” said Taylor, who ended up taking a job at Niagara University. “God just spoke to me.”
A criminal justice professor at the school, Taylor received the Caritas Medal during a Mass held Thursday to open a week-long spiritual revival at the school. The medal is given to people who act in a charitable manner, honoring the spirit of St. Vincent de Paul.
“It’s a little overwhelming,” the 38-year-old professor, who lives in the Falls, said of the award. “You often think of these things as recognition of a whole career. There’s so much more to be done.”
That passion drives Taylor to serve in numerous organizations on and off campus, including Niagara Falls Weed and Seed, the university’s Committee to Assist in the Revitalization of Niagara Falls and the Highland Community Revitalization Committee Inc. This active spirit made him a natural pick for university leaders.
“This is due to his passion for spearheading innovative projects to empower people in the local community,” the Rev. John Maher, university chaplain, wrote in a nomination letter on Taylor’s behalf.
